China Losens Ban on Rhino and Tiger Parts

Both Rhinos and Tigers are on the endangered species list, and yet China is allowing these animals to be farmed and used for scientific and cultural purposes. This means that rhino horn and tiger bone could be used medicinally, even though benefits have not been proven, and would be classified as "antiques" allowing for the legal exchange of animal parts.

Since 1993, China has prohibited rhino and tiger trade and this legal move would be a major setback to conservation efforts that have been made in the past 25 years. The World Wildlife Fund commented in the article that "even if restricted to antiques and the use in hospitals, this trade would increase confusion by consumers and law enforcers as to which products are and are not legal, and would likely expand the markets for other tiger and rhino products." Although the law is limited to animals that are farmed, once they are processed, legal products would be indistinguishable from illegal products. As a result, illegal poaching may rise and wild rhinos and tigers will me one step closer to complete extinction.

As a side note, the World Wildlife Fund reported in their The Living Planet Report that "losses in vertebrate species- mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles-averaged 60% between 1970 and 2014."



Link to the main article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46027702

Link to the article mentioned in the side note:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46028862

Smog in Delhi

Every year, Delhi is blanketed by thick smog that seeps into people's lungs forcing the declaration of a state of medical emergency. Hospitals overflow with men, women, and children who struggle to breathe because of the pollution, which the World Health Organization determined to be several times the recommended limit. According to the article, "the city has become what many call a gas chamber." (Biswas, BBC) A study attributed over 40,000 premature deaths in 2011 to this pollution.

This cycle of air pollution began in the 1960's and 70's with the green revolution, "an evolution of farming operations, government policy, and changing labor markets" writes Soutik Biswas. The green revolution was necessary to stop widespread famines that plagued the country, successfully increasing rice and wheat production. The northern states of Punjab and Haryana turned into "breadbaskets" for the country where they sow and harvest "wheat in the winter and rice to coincide with the monsoon season in July and August." Unfortunately, in order to clear the stubble that is left behind after the crops are harvested, "over two million farmers burn the 23 million tons of crop residue on the same 80,000 sq. km of farmland in northern India" at the same time. This burning releases particular matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and Sulphur dioxide creating a potentially deadly cloud of smog over Delhi.

The only solution that has been proposed by the government is the use of happy seeders and super straw management systems, both are devices that help remove stubble, but they are too expensive for many farmers to use.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45890916    

Indian Flavor in the Bay Area

Nik Sharma,38, grew up in Mumbai and came to America in 2002. He was born to a Hindu father from the state Uttar Pradesh and a Roman Catholic mother from Goa. Sharma did not tell anybody that he was gay for 22 years. Although he could not express a significant part of himself, he could express himself through food. As a child, he describes his love of spices and experimenting with flavors. When he first arrived in Cincinnati to study biochemistry, he continued to find solace through cooking and found himself blending Italian-American recipes and ingredients, like marinara sauce and pasta, with nigella seeds and keema (minced meat). Eventually, his love of food took him to the Bay Area, first to Santa Clara then to Oakland, which is where he currently resides. He is now a photographer, food writer/blogger, and cook. He has been a food columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle since 2016 and has recently published a cookbook titled "Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food" that combine his grandmother's Goan dishes, such as bebinca, with his own inventive flare.
Pasta with Keema, Picture from the SFC

Link to the Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/dining/nik-sharma-season-cookbook.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ffood&action=click&contentCollection=dining&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=14&pgtype=sectionfront

Link to his San Francisco Chronicle Column:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/cookyourweek/














  

Question 2 for Chapter 9

Question 2 : How do the Kojiki and Nihongi reflect early Japanese society and culture?

Answer: I found my answer on page 157 under the heading "Mythical Histories". The Kojiki and Nihongi are some of the first written Japanese records, but the author cautions that they "are not reliable or even consistent regarding this early period" (157). Kojiki translates to record of ancient matters and Nihongi, or Nihon Shoki, and Nihon is the Japanese word for their country. At the time these were written, Japan was adopting a style of literate civilization similar to China. Various myths comprised these records to give the ruling family a legitimate history.

They reflect early Japanese society and culture by revealing the connections they had with Korea and their desire to adopt Chinese titles to legitimize ruling families. Myths mention symbols of imperial authority in Japan (a bronze medal, an iron sword, and a necklace made of curved jewel in the shape of bear claws) that were also found in Korean tombs from the early Silla date. An example of Chinese titles given to Japanese rulers is shown by Ninigi's grandson, the first "emperor", that was given the title Jimmu "Divine Warrior". Finally, the Kojiki claimed that a base was established in Korea by the priestess-queen Himiko. Women held high positions in Japanese culture before Confucianism gained popularity.

Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami

On September 28 a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, with more lateral than vertical movement, was detected near the central island of Sulawesi. The earthquake was the followed by a devastating tsunami that ravaged Palu, a coastal city in Indonesia. Over 1,300 lives have been lost as a direct result of theses two terrifying natural disasters and the Red Cross estimates that over 1.6 million have been affected. Also, the affects are made worse by the damaged roads and bridges which makes getting aid to those in need extremely difficult. Because of this the military has been charged with the task of flying aid into the airport, and getting evacuees and those injured out. The military has been given control of the airport to accomplish their task. In addition, people have resulted to looting in a desperate attempt to survive, causing strife between the authorities and civilians of areas that have been affected. The article does not say how many people are missing, but I suspect that there are a lot because the search beneath rubble continues, I just hope that many are found alive.
Link to the article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45716915

Pictures from Article.